Genesis chapter 43. Genesis 43. Last time we saw that Joseph
told these brothers of his to bring Benjamin back with him. Remember he said, go back and
get Benjamin, your youngest brother, bring him with you. And Judah
said he would be surety for him. Come to this passage where Jacob,
their father, is going to send them back. Going to send them
back down there to Joseph. Now watch this. Verse 11. We'll
read to verse 17. And their father Israel, that's
Jacob, he said unto them, if it must be so now, do this. Take of the best fruits in the
land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present. a little
balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts and almonds,
and take double money in your hand, and the money that was
brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in
your hand, peradventure it was an oversight, take also your
brother, and arise and go again unto the man, and God Almighty
give you mercy before the man." that he may send away your other
brother and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children,
I am bereaved." And the men took that present, and they took double
money in their hand and Benjamin. And they rose up and went down
to Egypt and stood before Joseph. And when Joseph saw Benjamin
with them... Now there's our subject. When Joseph saw Benjamin. when Joseph saw Benjamin. He
said to the ruler of his house, bring these men home and slay,
kill the fatted calf, and make ready, for these men shall dine
with me at noon. And the man did as Joseph bade,
and the man brought the men into Joseph's house." Now, Joseph
was only interested in one thing. He was only interested in seeing
Benjamin with them. That's all he was interested
in. And when God calls His child, the only thing God is interested
in is seeing Christ. He's interested in seeing His
Son. That's what He's interested in. Coming before Him in His
Son. Now, the first thing we see here
is we're slow to learn God's not interested in our gifts.
God's not interested in what you can give Him. Jacob, he said,
take the best fruits in the land. Put these best fruits in your
vessel. Carry this honey and these spices and this myrrh and
these nuts and these almonds. Put the double money in your
hand. Take with you that money that was in your sacks that you
took the first time. Take extra money with you. And
then he said, and then take Benjamin, take him with you. And then,
what did he do? And then he said, and God Almighty
have mercy on you. The key in this passage is Jacob,
he's sending gifts, he's sending a payment. And at the same time,
he's saying, God Almighty have mercy on you. Those two don't
go together. Our gifts, our works, attempting to earn God's favor
and God's mercy, they don't go together. Look over Titus 3. Listen to this. Verse 5, it's not by works of
righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He
saved us. You see, they don't go together.
Not by works of righteousness we done, but according to His
mercy He saved us. By the washing of regeneration
and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which He shed on us abundantly
through Jesus Christ our Savior. That we're being justified by
His grace. It's all grace and mercy, see.
You can't have, you can't be of works and be of grace. If
it's of works, it's no more grace. If it's of grace, it's no more
works. And I think this is interesting too. Joseph didn't tell them
to bring him the best fruits of their land. He didn't say
bring that to me. They're in a famine. Don't you
think that's funny? They're in a famine. They're needing bread from Joseph.
And they're going to take honey and almonds. They're going to
take food and give it to Joseph. So Joseph would give them food.
You see, that's like a man trying to come to God thinking he's
got some righteousness of his own, and he's going to offer
that to God, try to get God to give him righteousness. That
don't even make sense, does it? You see what they're doing? They're
taking these fruits down there. But he didn't tell them to put
the money back in their sacks. He didn't tell them to do that.
He's teaching them like Christ is teaching His people. You know
what He told them to bring? Benjamin. That's all. Bring me
Benjamin. That's what he wanted. But they
didn't have any thought other than we gotta secure this food
from Joseph by purchase. We gotta purchase it. And that's
us by nature. We can't get to a point where
we realize by nature, if we just left it, we cannot realize salvation
is not to be had by a payment, by your work. It's free. It's
free. Whenever you, you know, you hear
me talk about works and trying to be saved by, be accepted of
God by your works. For instance, you do something
and you come under conviction. And you fall under conviction
and you know it's sinful, something you did. You see that, you see
it. And the next thing you know,
you're trying to make up for that. Trying to do something,
work extra hard to make up for that. That's works. That's works. God says repent from it. Come
confessing your sin to Him. Bow down to Christ. Come with
Christ. That's what God's interested in. But we are slow to get this. We're Pharisees all our life
until God quickens us and brings us to Christ, robes us in His
righteousness. And it's hard to stop being a Pharisee. We
get so self-righteous sometimes. You know, especially if you start
watching the news. How could they do that? That's
self-righteousness. It's so easy. But you know what
God does? He saves us. He saves us and
shows us mercy in spite of our sinfulness and our self-righteousness. That's what He does for His people.
That's what He does for His people. And He teaches us to be merciful
to one another because of His mercy. You remember Paul dealt
with that over in Romans 14. Look over there. Christ came and He went to the
cross and He finished the work of redemption and that veil in
that temple ran in two. And it was declared loud and
clear that salvation is not by the works of the law. That whole
covenant was fulfilled by Christ Himself. But those that truly were called
of God and truly believed God and were resting in Christ They
were so slow to let go of that law. They kept thinking, we can
only eat certain things. These are true believers. And
some others were more sound in the faith and they knew they
were free and complete in Christ. They didn't have to pay, they
didn't have to observe those dietary laws. None of that is
necessary. So how are you going to deal
with it? He got a true believer, but he's got so much of this
self-righteousness in him. What you gonna do? Look here,
Romans 14, 3. Let not him that eateth despise
him that eateth not. And let not him which eateth
not judge him that eateth. Here's the key. God hath received
him. God hath received him. Who art thou that judges another
man's servant? He's God's servant. To his own
master he stands or falls. Yea, he shall behold him up,
for God's able to make him stand. I point that out because Jacob
here, do you know how much Jacob had seen that God had done for
him? I mean, we saw him go through
that wilderness and end up back at Bethel, all the things that
happened to him. And here he is mixing his gifts
and his efforts and saying at the same time, now God have mercy
on you. God be merciful to you. You see, but he's still God's
child, and God saved him in spite of his sin, in spite of his self-righteousness. That's free grace. That's free
grace. You know, we can get the fact
that we're not under works, but then when you turn around and
condemn a weak brother who doesn't see it as fully and understand
it as fully, that's just as much works as You see what I'm saying? But free grace says God will
make him stand. God called him. God chose him.
God redeemed him. God will make him stand. God
will teach him. Make him stand. Isn't it funny? Boy, they took
all those fruits down there. Joseph, think about it. Joseph's
down there. He's got the key to the storehouse.
He's got all power in Egypt over everything. And they're going
to bring him some almonds. God is righteousness. He's holiness. He's wisdom. He owns everything.
He said, if I was hungry, I wouldn't ask you. We're going to carry
him some of our little almonds and give it to him. He's not
interested in that. All right, let's see. What's
he interested in? He's interested in Christ alone.
That's how God's going to receive sinners, in Christ alone. Now
look at verse 15. Benjamin here, I'm looking at Benjamin as a
type of Christ. Watch what happens. And the men
took that present, they took double money in their hand, and
Benjamin. And they rose up, went down to
Egypt, stood before Joseph. And when Joseph saw Benjamin.
He doesn't say Joseph saw the money, he doesn't say Joseph
saw the fruits, he doesn't say any of that. Who'd Joseph have
his eye on? Benjamin. He saw Benjamin. That's the only one he was interested
in. See, Benjamin was Joseph's full brother. These other boys
is his half-brother. They have the same father, but
not the same mother. But Benjamin's his full brother. And he hadn't
seen that boy in 20, 25 years. Now who do you think, just sentimentally
speaking, talking about the love of our heart, who would you have
your eye on? Some gifts these fellows are
bringing? or that brother? Which one? You see, that's God's
yearning. His heart is for His Son. This
is my beloved Son in whom I'm well pleased. So you think He's
going to take His eye off His Son and the righteousness and
the holiness and the immaculate glory of His Son? and look at some little works
we're trying to do to be accepted with God? No. He's looking for Christ. Looking
for Christ. When he saw Benjamin, he said
to the ruler of his house, bring these men home and kill and make
ready for these men are going to dine with me at noon. That's
all he saw was Benjamin. Benjamin. Let me show you some
scriptures. John 14. Here's my point. John 14 and verse 6. The Lord
said, I'm the way, I'm the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto
the Father but by me. You see it pictured in our text.
The only way they could come into Joseph's presence was by
Benjamin. That was it. If they didn't have
Benjamin, he wouldn't have invited them to his house. No, sir. But they came. We can only come
to God with Christ. Look over at 1 Timothy 2. 1 Timothy 2. And look at verse 5. There's
one God. That's who we're looking at Joseph
right now as a type of God the Father. There he is. There's
one God. And there's one mediator between
God and men, the man Christ Jesus. Benjamin's standing there as
that mediator. He's that one, because of him, Joseph's going
to receive them. And Christ, because of Christ,
God will receive His people, but only in Christ. You can't
come with your works, you've got to come in Christ. Neither
is there salvation in any other. That's Acts 4.12, for there's
none other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must
be saved." You see, it's not a maybe, it's a must. We must
be saved by Christ in Christ alone. I want you to see one
more scripture, Hebrews 7. Hebrews 7, 25. Look at that.
He is able Also to save them to the uttermost
that come unto God by him Seeing he ever liveth to make intercession
for them How do they come by him? He makes intercession for
them if I'm gonna come by Christ only you know how I'm gonna do
it because he made intercession for me and continues to make
intercession for me and he'll keep making intercession for
me and he's able to to save to the uttermost all that come to
God by Him. Now what's this thing of believing
on Christ? What is that? What is that? Is there something to do? Faith's
the opposite of works. It's the opposite of works. Trusting
Christ is trusting another to be the person that's going to
present you to God. And all His works are going to
stand to be my works. Face the opposite. Look at Romans
10. Romans 10. And look at verse 1. Paul's talking here about Israel,
you know, and he says, My heart's desire and prayer to God for
Israel is that they might be saved. For I bear them record
that they have a zeal of God, but it's not according to knowledge.
It's not true. They're not saved. They're not
saved, he's saying. They're religious as they can
be, but it's not according to knowledge. Why? For they being
ignorant of God's righteousness. Being ignorant of God's righteousness.
Are you ignorant of God's righteousness? What do you think of when you
think of God's righteousness? Think of the law? Think of works?
Think of something you've got to do? Here's what God's righteousness
is. Look. They are ignorant of God's
righteousness, going about to establish their own righteousness,
and have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the
law for righteousness to everyone that believes. Christ is. Christ
is the righteousness of God. Now, how do I have Christ? You
see, works here, Moses describes the righteousness which is of
the law, that the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
That means you gotta do everything in the law. Tell me what the 645th law is
of Moses is. I bet nobody here knows that.
I don't know what it is. Well then I hope we're not trying
to come to God in the law. Because we don't even know what
the law is. See what I'm saying? But to come
to God by law, you've got to do every jot and tittle of that
law. Dot every I, cross every T. But
how do I come with Christ? Look here. Verse 6. But the righteousness which is
of faith speaks on this wise. Say not in your heart who's going
to ascend into heaven or who's going to descend into the deep.
It's not something to be grasped at. It's not something that you've
got to ascend up high or run to this depth to get it. That's
what he's saying. Look here, verse 8. But the word's nigh thee. It's
near you. Even in your mouth and in your
heart, that is the word of faith which we preach. That if thou
shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe
in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt
be saved. I love this verse. Watch this.
For with the heart man believes unto righteousness. Isn't that
good? Isn't that good? You believe
unto righteousness. And with the mouth, confession
is made unto salvation. You see how opposite salvation
by works and salvation through faith in Christ is? You see how
different? It's as different as coming down there with those
fruits trying to get Joseph to notice you because you got all
these, I got this honey and these almonds. But the only one Joseph
sent you to be in is Benjamin. That's it. That's the only one. God's not interested in your
righteousness or mine. He's interested in the righteousness
of His Son. Because that's His righteousness.
Alright, now look, here's the last thing in our text. When God draws us to Christ,
and He truly makes you to lay hold of Christ, you're going
to find this out. Christ has already done everything.
He's already made everything ready. There's nothing else to
be done. No other works to be done for
acceptance with God. It's done. It's finished. That's
what Christ did for His people. Look here, verse 16. Genesis
43, 16. And when Joseph saw Benjamin
with them, he said to the ruler of his house, and this ruler
of his house, this steward, I believe it's a picture of Christ. It's
a picture of God, the Holy Spirit. He said to the ruler of his house,
bring these men home. and kill and make ready, for
these men shall dine with me at noon. And the man did as Joseph
bade, and the man brought the men into Joseph's house." Joseph
said, you prepare a feast and these men are going to dine with
me at noon. And so Christ is the one who prepared the feast.
He's prepared the feast. Remember that parable he said
about a certain man made a great supper. and bade many. And he sent his servants at supper
time to say to them that were bidding, Come, for all things
are now ready." You don't invite somebody to your house and have
them come into your house and then say, Now, will you cook
dinner for us? You have it all ready. And they
come in. What do I bring? Just come hungry. Sit down and dine. That's all
you got to do. And that's what Christ says.
When He bids you come, you're coming. He's not going to just
tug at your heart strings. He's going to take control. And
He's bringing you. And when He brings you, you're
going to find out. I have full, complete righteousness prepared,
ready-made. I've got holiness already prepared. I've got acceptance with God.
I've got the wisdom of God representing me. There's no condemnation now. It's all finished. It's just
come eat and dine, He says. Just come down. See, He's the
provider. He's the provider. He's salvation. He's everything we read about
in Scripture. Righteousness, and holiness,
and wisdom, and redemption, and forgiveness, life. All these
things. He's Christ. He is these things. He is these things. Now, listen
to John. This is the record. Here it is. This is the record. that God
has given, freely given to us eternal life. And this life is
in His Son. It's in His Son. He that hath
the Son, he that hath the Son of God hath life. And he that
has not the Son of God hath not life. Are you trying to come
to God with your almonds or are you trying to come to God in
Christ? Come to God in Christ. alone. All right, let's stand
together. Father, we thank you as we try
to draw near and try to hear and understand. We pray you'd
make it effectual. Pray you would truly teach us
in our heart by your spirit. Give us an unction from on high
that we might really believe you, rest in you, trust you.
Lord, robe us in Christ's righteousness. Make us, purge us inwardly so
we can see Him and behold Him and know what You've done for
us in Him. We ask it, Lord, for Your glory and honor. In Christ's
name, Amen.